Sermons of John Calvin, upon the song that Hezekiah made after he had been…Sermons of Iohn Caluin, vpon the songe that Ezechias made after he had bene…

Now on the other side, let us confess that our life is cursed if we gluttonously devour the good things that God giveth us and do not therein behold his goodness. For we unchristianly abuse all that which was appointed for our use and salvation unless we be brought to this point that God showeth him self a very father unto us, and that by all means of gentleness he draweth us unto him, that we should not doubt that he taketh us for his children. And in this also we see how miserable is the state of Papists, for they will not assure them selves of the goodness of God, but say that always we must be in doubt of it. And so all their praying and thanksgiving to God, is nothing but Hypocrisy and feigning. For we can not call upon the name of God but with affiance, we can not praise his name except we know that he is favourable unto us. Then they are altogether excluded. Let us learn then that we can never offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving which he esteemeth and setteth by, and that we can never attain ⟨p. 67⟩to the right scope of our life, unless we be fully persuaded of his goodness. And so as oft as we think upon all the graces and benefits of God: let this come into our mind, that God doth confirm and ratify unto us his adoption to the end that we may not doubt that he counteth us as his children, and that we freely call upon him as our father: Lo in a sum what we have to learn of this place.

Now on the other side, let vs confesse that our lyfe is cursed if we gluttonously deuoure the good thinges that God geueth vs and do not therin behold his goodnes. For we vnchristianly abuse all that which was apointed for our vse and saluation vnlesse we be brought to this point that God sheweth him selfe a very father vnto vs, and that by all meanes of gentlenesse he draweth vs vnto him, that we should not doubt that he taketh vs for his children. And in this also we see how miserable is the state of Papistes, for they will not assure them selues of the goodnes of God, but saye that alwaies we must be in doubt of it. And so all theyr prayeng and thankesgeuyng to God, is nothing but Hipocrisie and faining. For we can not call vpon the name of God but with affiaunce, we can not praise his name except we know that he is fauourable vnto vs. Then they are altogether excluded. Let vs learn then that we can neuer offer to God a sacrifice of thākesgeuing which he estemeth and setteth by, and that we can neuer attein ⟨p. 67⟩